Every October, my dad rants and raves about how amazing the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is. This year I was finally old enough to actually participate in the fun. When we got to the park around 4:30 p.m. it was still blistering hot outside. I definitely gorged myself a bit too quickly, but that was to be expected.

Shrimp Cevichi - CHILI

The line in Chili was fairly short, so I had Shrimp Ceviche and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in my hand before no time. Because it was a little hard to handle them both while waking I ended up having to experience them separately. To my surprise, the shrimp ceviche had a wonderful kick and great texture with the corn nut topping. The shrimp wasn't chewy and the wine was a refreshing way to swish my palette afterward.

The line in Brazil.

Grilled Pork Skewer with a Leblon Frozen Caipirinha - BRAZIL

I was afraid the Leblon Frozen Caipirinha wouldn't taste as good as my dad talked it up to be, but boy was I wrong. Like a delicious lemon slushy, the caipirinha was light and a perfect way to keep cool. The Grilled Pork Skewer was definitely a bit of a disappointment. The breading made the meat feel dry, while the whole dish tasted as if it had been sitting for a while.

The Kielbasa and Potato Pierogies with carmelized onions and sour cream made a terrific pair with the tangy sausages. The dish felt a little heavy to be eating on such a hot afternoon, but the flavors were a great mix of hearty, sweet and zesty.

Acrobatic act in China

Cheese Baked Ravioli with Chianti - ITALY

There was no way I was going to pass up on the Cheese Baked Ravioli and Chianti in Italy. My own little personal pan of perfection, the mozzarella cheese on top was a gooey mess of bliss. Ground beef was tucked away at the bottom of the dish and came as a nice surprise with each passing bite.

Dad made a beeline for the Barramundi with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes so I figured it had to be good. The fish from Australia was buttered and rich, while the tomato gave a nice burst of citrus.

Espresso and Baklava - GREECE

After walking around with a belly full of food and booze I started to get sleepy circling the park. In Greece we stopped off so I could get a Double Shot of Espresso and Baklava. I know the two sound like they shouldn't go together, but they were a great way to finish off the final lap before we trecked back to the car.

Even though the whole experience wasn't as epic as it had been talked up, I will definitely be returning next year.